Thursday, May 05, 2016

Digital prejudice: When software doesn’t play fair - The Boston Globe

Final paragraphs from a timely big data reality check

"What to do? Christian Sandvig, an associate professor of communication studies and information at the University of Michigan, says academics, journalists, and the Federal Trade Commission should run algorithm audits, a high-tech version of the methods used to identify racial discrimination in housing. Computers could run simulated queries on Google, Facebook and other popular services, in a bid to spot biased responses.

Specialists say there is no law that explicitly prohibits algorithmic bias, and Sandvig doubts that any such law could be enforced. But public exposure and political pressure worked with Amazon, and it might be our only defense against digital prejudice."